Ease Reading-Find Your Next Favorite Book

Hot Search

The Notebooks of Robert Frost

robert frost robert faggen

... Show More
Robert Frost is one of the most widely read, well loved, and misunderstood of modern writers. In his day, he was also an inveterate note-taker, penning thousands of intense aphoristic thoughts, observations, and meditations in small pocket pads and school theme books throughout his life. These notebooks, transcribed and presented here in their entirety for the first time, offer unprecedented insight into Frost's complex and often highly contradictory thinking about poetics, politics, education, psychology, science, and religion--his attitude toward Marxism, the New Deal, World War--as well as Yeats, Pound, Santayana, and William James. Covering a period from the late 1890s to early 1960s, the notebooks reveal the full range of the mind of one of America's greatest poets. Their depth and complexity convey the restless and probing quality of his thought, and show how the unruliness of chaotic modernity was always just beneath his appearance of supreme poetic control. Edited by preeminent Frost scholar Robert Faggen and annotated to help readers with the poet's more elusive references, the notebooks are also thoroughly cross-referenced, marking thematic connections within these and Frost's other writings, including his poetry, letters, and other prose. This is a major new addition to the canon of Robert Frost's writings.

809 pages, Hardcover

First published January 30,2007

This edition

Format
809 pages, Hardcover
Published
January 30, 2007 by Belknap Press / Harvard University Press
ISBN
9780674023116
ASIN
0674023110
Language
English

More editions

About the author

Profile Image for robert frost

robert frost

... Show More
Flinty, moody, plainspoken and deep, Robert Frost was one of America's most popular 20th-century poets. Frost was farming in Derry, New Hampshire when, at the age of 38, he sold the farm, uprooted his family and moved to England, where he devoted himself to his poetry. His first two books of verse, A Boy's Will (1913) and North of Boston (1914), were immediate successes. In 1915 he returned to the United States and continued to write while living in New Hampshire and then Vermont. His pastoral images of apple trees and stone fences -- along with his solitary, man-of-few-words poetic voice -- helped define the modern image of rural New England. Frost's poems include "Mending Wall" ("Good fences make good neighbors"), "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" ("Whose woods these are I think I know"), and perhaps his most famous work, "The Road Not Taken" ("Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-- / I took the one less traveled by"). Frost was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for poetry four times: in 1924, 1931, 1937 and 1943. He also served as "Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress" from 1958-59; that position was renamed as Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry (or simply Poet Laureate) in 1986.

Frost recited his poem "The Gift Outright" at the 1961 inauguration of John F. Kennedy... Frost attended both Dartmouth College and Harvard, but did not graduate from either school... Frost preferred traditional rhyme and meter in poetry; his famous dismissal of free verse was, "I'd just as soon play tennis with the net down."

Readers also enjoyed

Community Reviews

Rating(3.6 / 5.0, 5 votes)
5 stars
1(20%)
4 stars
1(20%)
3 stars
3(60%)
2 stars
0(0%)
1 stars
0(0%)
5 reviews All reviews
Profile Image for Kimberly .
MishaRoute
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
... Show More
I barreled through this compendium of Mr. Frost's jottings.

It consists of 688 pages of transcriptions from 48 writing notebooks.

I didn't do it out of stubbornness, but rather out of pure fascination.

This treasure trove is truly revelatory.

It is not only stimulating and provocative when it comes to literature, but also in the realms of science, politics, education, religion, love, and marriage.

The content within is truly inexhaustible.

I know that I'll be re-reading certain parts for many years to come.

Each time I turn the page, I discover something new and profound.

Mr. Frost's jottings offer a unique perspective on the world and human experience.

They are a testament to his creativity and intellectual curiosity.

This compendium is a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the depths of human thought and expression.
0 0 Reply
Profile Image for Kimberly .
cokoroL
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
... Show More
If you are on a quest for a treasure map that leads to the inner workings of Robert Frost's brain - well, this isn't it!

Most of the entries within these notebooks seem to be complete nonsense.

The Introduction offers a rather useful advisory for anyone who is contemplating the idea of venturing into the labyrinthine notebooks of Robert Frost.

It reveals that Robert Frost had a penchant for being mischievous.

And from the appearance of these notebooks, it could very well be one long elaborate joke, sending readers on a path that leads nowhere.

It makes one wonder if Frost was deliberately playing tricks on those who would dare to explore his private musings.

Perhaps he intended to keep his true thoughts and inspirations hidden within the chaos of these seemingly nonsensical entries.

Nevertheless, for those with a curious mind and a love for the enigmatic, these notebooks still hold a certain allure, despite the warning that they may lead to a dead end.
0 0 Reply
Profile Image for Kimberly .
vigorousjammer
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
... Show More
**"Robert Faggen: A Multifaceted Individual"**

Robert Faggen is a name that holds significance in various fields.

He is not just a single-dimensional personality but someone with a diverse range of interests and talents.

In the academic realm, he has made notable contributions with his in-depth research and thought-provoking ideas.

His work has been widely recognized and has influenced many in the field.

Beyond academia, Robert Faggen is also involved in community activities.

He actively participates in initiatives that aim to bring about positive change and make a difference in the lives of others.

His passion for helping the community is truly inspiring.

In addition, he has a keen interest in the arts.

Whether it's painting, music, or literature, he has a deep appreciation for the creative expression.

Overall, Robert Faggen is a remarkable individual whose contributions span across different domains, making him a person worthy of admiration and respect.

His multifaceted nature and unwavering dedication continue to have a positive impact on those around him.
0 0 Reply
Profile Image for Kimberly .
MTheSestrim
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
... Show More
I really made another attempt to read this book.

I have a great affection for R.F., yet reading his notebooks or notes proves to be rather tedious.

I firmly believe that I would have more favorable results if I were engaged in studying and penning a paper about him.

For me, this book is more of a reference work.

It seems that while his ideas and thoughts are valuable, the way they are presented in these notebooks makes it a bit of a chore to go through.

Perhaps if I had a specific academic purpose in mind, like writing a detailed analysis or research paper, I would be more motivated and able to extract the useful information more easily.

As it stands now, it remains a bit of a challenge to fully engage with this particular form of his work.

Nonetheless, I still appreciate the effort that went into creating these notebooks and the potential insights they hold.
0 0 Reply
Profile Image for Kimberly .
animeluver550
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
... Show More

A great many things remained incomprehensible to me. These notebooks were penned by Robert Frost specifically for himself. While there were certain fascinating insights that could be gleaned from them, the reading experience was far from easy.


The words seemed to dance on the page, eluding my full understanding. Frost's thoughts were complex and multilayered, requiring careful consideration and reflection. It was as if he was writing in a language that only he fully understood.


Nevertheless, I persevered, determined to unlock the mysteries hidden within these pages. With each turn of the page, I felt a sense of anticipation, hoping to discover something new and profound. Although the going was tough, I knew that the effort would be well worth it in the end.

0 0 Reply
Leave a Review
You must be logged in to rate and post a review. Register an account to get started.